CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF “DIGITAL” ANTHROPOLOGY

Abstract

The article attempts to provide a primary description of cognitive foundations of creating a “digital” anthropology. We are talking about the genesis of such a modern philosophy of man, the subject of which should be the human state in the era of rapid progress of “smart” technologies. Defining the primary conceptual framework of the new anthropology requires answering the following fundamental questions. Firstly, what should be the conceptual framework of humanitarian research aimed at understanding the nature and consequences of the digital revolution? Secondly, what is the specificity of such a study, if it claims to be a humanitarian expertise in the broad sense of this concept? Thirdly, what anthropic contexts of the development of modern advanced technologies need to be analyzed at the first step in the formation of a relevant humanitarian expertise? The article shows that the conceptual framework of research in the field of humanitarian analysis of digital innovation is set by (1) a special subject matter, (2) the structure of this subject matter, (3) reflection of methodology, (4) self-reflection, (5) the conscious responsibility of the researcher and (6) the pragmatic nature of discourse. It is proposed to consider “artificial intelligence” primarily in the context of speech practices that act as a breeding ground for both optimism and pessimism in relation to the anthropic prospects of “digitalization”. The thesis that “digital anthropomorphism” is the result of the reduction of human existence to a “program” and consists in the imitation of human mental practice has been substantiated. The authors conclude that the humanitarian expertise of technological innovations should be based on the following fundamental statement: the “digital revolution” with all its effects is yet another way of defining man in his own human existence.